KUZU's Fall 2009/10 Ready-To-Wear Line

Before KUZU closed shop for Tucson's slow summer months, we celebrated by having KUZU's first annual "Paint Your Fashion" event on Tuesday May 26th. The idea of this event was to incorporate our theme of recycling fabrics and to involve the citizens of Tucson in new methods of expressing creativity. Those who attended were asked to donate any unwanted fabric they had laying around and decorate it while they were participating. They could dye their fabric, paint with acrylics, bleach sections, spray paint or all of the above! Not only were we gaining more stock in fabric but, planning to use as much of the painted fabric as possible in creating KUZU's Fall clothing line. With that in mind we urged any involved to be as creative as possible and to just have fun designing!
I admit that it was a risky idea to base our line around fabric we had no creative control over. in the end we were left with the daunting task of somehow putting this all together in a cohesive line. But as you will see, even though these fabrics weren't painted by professionals, nor painted with a universal theme in mind, they go together extremely well!




This outfit consists of a deconstructed Alternative Apparel t-shirt and two-tone harem pants with an elastic waistband and tapered legs.

This outfits is comprised of a silk remnant ruffle t-shirt and a two-tone high-waisted pencil skirt. One side is lame fabric and the other is hand-dyed fabric from our fashion painting event. The skirt is fully lined and blind-hemmed.

This amazing outfit is another silk remnant ruffle t-shirt with a beautiful thrifted silk ruffle skirt, lined and fitted with a zipper.

This outfit is another silk remnant ruffle t-shirt of Japanese chirimen fabric donated to our fashion painting event. The skirt is also from the event and is nylon tarp that was spray-painted with different earth tones and constructed to resemble a "bubble".

This dress is cotton drop-cloth hand-painted with acrylics at our fashion painting event. Each side is adorned with a dragonfly, one of each sex. The dress can be worn either way, front or back and will effect how the cowl collar drapes.

This dress is constructed out of camel colored wool and is fully lined with thrifted bed linen material. The front is embellished with Boa Constrictor rib-cage bones and the sides of each hip are extended outwards with thick bands of corresponding fabric!

This two-piece outfit is a thrifted mens XL t-shirt taken in to be a mid-drift baring tee. The skirt is comprised of Roberto Cavalli remnant silk aand unlined.

This outfit is another one of our silk remnant ruffle t-shirts. The bottom is donated fabric from our fashion painting event and turned into a high-waisted pencil skirt.

This outfit is another silk remnant ruffle t-shirt. The skirt is a two-toned high-waisted pencil skirt. One side is painted and hand-dyed from our event and the other is lame fabric. The skirt is partially lined and embellished with side snaps and black feathers along the hem.

All photographs taken by Stephanie Lew.

The obligatory "about me" start-up post!

   KUZU is a mother/ daughters run art gallery and fashion boutique hybrid.  We operate under the mantra: "One mans trash is another mans treasure" and hope to successfully integrate this eco-friendly philosophy into Tucson, Arizona's fashion scene (or at least help to create more of a scene).

   KUZU creates one-of-a-kind pieces not seen anywhere else and in very limited production.  You'll find metal sculptural works of art created and constructed by theasianwelder.coms Hazel Colditz, as per our gallery.  As well as garments upcycled from top-of-the-line fashion house remnants and reconstructed ready-to-wear from your average thrift store finds into fabulous threads.

   Because KUZU is such a unique concept for Tucson, Az, as well as located in an uncommon spot for a boutique, we also offer our wares online at kuzu.etsy.com.  we are now (being a new shop and all) directing efforts into online social networking through Myspace, Facebook and most recently this blog.  In doing so we hope to create more awareness of our salon in the online Tucson and fashion community.  This blog will include KUZU's various stories of inspiration, sketches, rants and raves on current trends, links to influential fashion critics and designers and hopefully this will be another facet of our creativity.  

   We hope to inform our readers not only about our various sales and new merchandise, but also about KUZU's monthly events, charitable and otherwise, for the city of Tucson!

  

Arizona Daily Wildcat - Kuzu turns trash into treasures

Arizona Daily Wildcat - Kuzu turns trash into treasures

Shared via AddThis